Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. With that distinction, there are many different top attractions in D.C., including museums, art galleries, and other beautiful and historical landmarks. But many places are overlooked for the traditional sight-seeing, like the memorials, and the better known museums. But, there are many other wonderful things to see when in America’s capital, even if they are overshadowed by the more known historical monuments. If you are looking to visit Washington, D.C., be sure to consider visiting these lesser known, but equally amazing, places in the capital of the United States of America. National Zoological Park The Smithsonian National Zoological Park is one of the world’s most known zoos. The National Zoo is a 163-acre park in Rock Creek Park and is open 264 days a year. With over 400 different species, the National Zoo is most known for its adorable giant pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Bao Bao. These are some of the only pandas in the United States, so it’s a great opportunity to see some of the world’s favorite creatures. As a member of the Association of Zoo Horticulture, the zoo also includes beautiful gardens and areas for their animals to roam. With another rural campus, the Smithsonian National Zoo is associated with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, which sponsors the study of endangered species and the breeding of endangered species. Newseum The Newseum is a really unique museum in Washington, D.C.,that focuses on freedom of expression and “the first five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.” This museum tends to focus on interactivity, and includes many favorite exhibits, including the 9/11 Gallery that features the broadcast antennae from the top of the WTC, pieces from the Berlin Wall (the largest pieces outside of Germany), and the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery that features every winning photo from 1942. The Newseum also shows the evolution of electronic communication as well as online learning platforms, and compelling programs that “seek to generate solutions to some of the most pressing national and international challenges of the day.” United States Botanic Garden The United States Botanic Garden is another unique museum that seeks to inform visitors about the importance of plants in regards to the importance of the earth and its ecosystem. The vision started with George Washington almost 200 years ago when he wanted to emphasize the importance of plants to the nation. Established in 1820, the US Botanic Garden is one of the oldest gardens and is now recognized as a museum, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Their mission is to demonstrate “the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humankind.” National Portrait Gallery The National Portrait Gallery was founded by Congress in 1962 to “tell the story of America by portraying the people who shape the nation’s history, development and culture.” With this mission, the National Portrait Gallery shows many portraits of the men and women that helped make the nation a nation. This gallery is the only collection of presidential portraits outside the White House and has grown to over 22,000 in media, from paintings, print, daguerreotypes, and digital portraits. It’s a beautiful representation of the people that made American great. Library of Congress Lastly, the Library of Congress is one of the most reputable libraries in the world while being the largest library in the world and the nation’s first established cultural institution. With many different offices, services, guided tours, the library is a wonderful architectural and written exhibition of our nation’s finest thought. If you are looking for some of the top attractions in DC, look no further than the options above to make your DC trip the best.
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